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Our Little Mexican Cousin 


The Little Cousin Series 

ILLUSTRA TED 

Jt 

By Mary Hazelton Wade 

Our Little African Cousin 
Our Little Armenian Cousin 
Our Little Brown Cousin 
Our Little Cuban Cousin 
Our Little Eskimo Cousin 
Our Little German Cousin 
Our Little Hawaiian Cousin 
Our Little Indian Cousin 
Our Little Irish Cousin 
Our Little Italian Cousin 
Our Little Japanese Cousin 
Our Little Jewish Cousin 
Our Little Mexican Cousin 
Our Little Norwegian Cousin 
Our Little Philippine Cousin 
Our Little Porto Rican Cousin 
Our Little Russian Cousin 
Our Little Siamese Cousin 
Our Little Swiss Cousin 
Our Little Turkish Cousin 

By Blanche McManus 

Our Little English Cousin 
Our Little French Cousin 

By Elizabeth Roberts MacDonald 

Our Little Canadian Cousin 
By Isaac Taylor Headland 

Our Little Chinese Cousin 
By H. Lee M. Pike 

Our Little Korean Cousin 

Each volume illustrated with six full-page plates in tint, from original 
drawings. 

Cloth, i2mo, with decorative cover, per volume, 60 cents. 

J* 

L. G PAGE & COMPANY 
New England Building, Boston, Mass, 




* 


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

*“ 

* 

* 


Our Little 
Mexican Cousin 


By 




Edward C. Butler 


Ex-Secretary of the United States Legation , City 
* of Mexico 


Illustrated 


* 
❖ 
❖ 
*- 
* 
* 
«§* 
* 
❖ 
* 
* 
*- 
* 

❖ 
* 



Boston 

L. C. Page & Company 

MDCCCCV 


O 


■ 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4^ 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* ^ 







Copyright , 1905 
By L. C. Page & Company 

(incorporated) 

Alt rights reserved 


Published September, 1905 



'^>-5 i,tr> of 


COLONIAL PRESS 

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds &> Co. 
Boston, U. S. A. 


Preface 


One generation ago American histories 
pictured Mexico as a land of volcanoes and 
palms, cathedrals, bandits and revolutions, 
and a dark-eyed race riding about in stages. 
Even in 1874 railroads and telegraphs, the 
veins and nerves of a nation, were unknown, 
and New York was a fortnight’s steamer ride 
from Mexico City; to-day they are but one 
hundred hours apart. Bandits and revolutions 
are now unknown, the only revolutions being 
of car-wheels and machinery belting. 

The mental revolution includes the boys 
and girls of Mexico. Family life, formerly 
intimate and conservative, broadens, and the 



VI 


Preface 


old-time interdependence gives way to inde¬ 
pendence. English is now spoken by the 
youth; in fact, they are more ambitious to 
learn English than their American cousins to 
learn Spanish. Lads and lassies of this lovely 
land are sent to American schools to finish 
their education. They return with American 
ideas. The boys are as enthusiastic over base¬ 
ball and football as are the American boys; 
the girls fraternize freely with foreign play¬ 
mates. 

Surely our little Mexican cousin now lives 
in a new morning of thought, on the threshold 
of modernizing ideas and at the open door of 
expectant promise and radiant possibility. 

The siesta and the fiesta fade, the cc manana ” 
habit is being forgotten, and mutual respect 
and regard increasingly unite the Mexicans 
and Americans. In 1894, the writer, as sec¬ 
retary of the American Legation, in conversa¬ 
tion with President Porfirio Diaz, heard him 


Preface 


Vll 


call the United States “ Mexico’s big brother.” 
God grant that this big brother may always 
treat his Mexican sister with gallantry and 
kindness, thus helping her to work out her 
own wonderful destiny. 



Contents 


CHAPTER 

I. 

The New Year . 

• 

• 

PAGE 

. I 

II. 

At School .... 

• 

• 

. 14 

III. 

Making Drawn - work 

• 

• 

• 23 

IV. 

A Dinner and a Ride 

• 

• 

• 35 

V. 

A Visit to Popocatepetl 

• 

• 

. 52 

VI. 

Sight-seeing 

• 

• 

. 70 

VII. 

Feasts and Flowers 

• 

• 

. 81 

VIII. 

The End of the Year . 

• 

• 

. 90 






List of Illustrations 


PAGK 

“ They are survivors of a race long rele¬ 
gated to the past” {SeePage 62) Frontispiece 
SEffOR JlMINEZ. 2 

A Fruit-vender.12 

Making Drawn -work .27 

President Diaz.48 

On a Maguey Plantation.56 

“ The wonderful vision of the volcano Po¬ 
pocatepetl ”.59 

Making Tortillas.65 

“ In some parts of the city the effigies were 

HUNG ACROSS THE STREETS” .... 84 

“ Each boy and girl had three chances to 

HIT THE PINA TA ”. 98 




Our Little Mexican Cousin 


CHAPTER I. 

THE NEW YEAR 

On New Year’s Eve Juanita had been 
allowed to sit up long past her usual bedtime, 
that she might enjoy the celebratipn of the 
holiday, as well as take part in the religious 
observances. To Juanita the latter were no 
less important than the former, for she be¬ 
longed to a devout Roman Catholic family. 
With them holy days and holidays were one 
and the same thing, and the Mexicans have a 
great many of them. 

Juanita’s father, Alvaro Jiminez, was a mer¬ 
chant of the City of Mexico, and the home he 



2 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


had provided for his family was all that a mod¬ 
erate income, combined with good taste, could 
command. 

The big door of this home opened on a 
tiled entrance leading to a lovely garden. A 
large palm rose in the centre, its fronded leaves 
gracefully falling over beds of violets, helio¬ 
trope, and pansies. A brilliant bougainvillea 
vine, cerise in colour, trailed along one side of 
the wall like a rich robe instinct with life. A 
broad, tesselated corridor ran around the gar¬ 
den. This patio, or court, was open to the 
sky, as is common in Mexican homes, and 
sunshine and light thus reached all the rooms. 

The parlour was a stately room, the chairs 
lined up on each side of the sofa, so the men 
could sit on one side and the women on the 
other. 

Of course all the rooms were comfortably 
furnished, but one of the most interesting in 
the house was the kitchen. 


M 



SENOR JIMINEZ 

















The New Year 


3 


The Mexican kitchen is always provided 
with a braserOy or range built of bricks, about 
three eet high and from three to six feet wide. 
On the top are two or more square openings, 
each containing a grate, and underneath the 
grate is an open place to furnish draught and 
from which to collect the ashes. Charcoal is 
used in the braseros. 

The earthen pots and iron kettles are placed 
on the burning coals, and meals are therefore 
cooked in a very short time. The Mexican 
cook can thus prepare three or four articles at 
once. No stovepipes are used, and the walls 
of the kitchen are soon very black from the 
smoke. 

Sometimes a brick oven is built apart from 
the brasero. When the family has no oven, 
the cook puts the food in a dish, with a piece 
of sheet iron on top covered with hot coals, 
thus cooking underneath and above. 

Though weary, Juanita was very happy on 


4 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


the morning of New Year’s Day. The cele¬ 
bration of the previous evening was fresh in 
her mind, and, childlike, her imagination ran 
riot. 

At midnight, with her parents, she had at¬ 
tended mass in the great cathedral. The 
privilege of celebrating midnight mass on 
New Year’s Eve was granted to the Mexicans 
by Pope Leo XIII. Hence, the Mexican 
churches are filled with devout people as they 
approach the threshold of the new year. On 
the first day of the year special services are 
held, on which occasion a pontifical mass is 
had, commencing at nine o’clock in the fore¬ 
noon. 

Early in the evening before this midnight 
service the Jiminez family had partaken of a 
supper prepared with unusual care and gener¬ 
osity, at which several guests, old and young, 
were welcome visitors. The intervening hours 
were occupied by cheerful conversation and 


The New Year 


5 

social games. In the latter you may be sure 
Juanita took an active and joyous part. 

In the homes of some of Juanita’s friends, 
where there was less observance of religious 
rites, entertainments and midnight suppers 
were given. Peculiar ceremonies were per¬ 
formed. When the cathedral clock struck 
midnight, the moment on which the old and 
the new hinged, a pretty girl from among the 
number present poured a bottle of champagne 
over a porcelain clock, thus christening the 
new year. Then the orchestra struck up and 
everybody danced. 

In some other homes there was a more 
gruesome celebration of the passing of the old 
year. All the members of the company were 
dressed in black. Upon a table in the centre 
candles surrounded a small coffin, upon which 
was a clock set so as to stop when it reached 
the hour of midnight. At just that moment 
the clock was put into the coffin and buried 


6 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


in the garden, or patio , as if it were a dead 
person. 

Strange as it may seem, the Mexican chil¬ 
dren, as well as older people, found much fun 
in this ceremony, and after the mock funeral 
all engaged in dancing. 

Throughout the place a noisy welcome was 
given to the new year. When the great bell 
struck the hour of twelve the entire city 
seemed to give a great throb. Bells all over 
the city took up the new story; steam whistles 
were let loose in all the factories, and, during 
the traditional five minutes that are supposed 
to cover the eternal confounding of the old and 
the exaltation of the new year, small boys went 
through the streets blowing horns and shooting 
off firecrackers. 

Like the children of many lands, as well as 
like some children of a larger growth, Juanita 
made some good resolutions at the beginning 
of this new year. Among them was a purpose 


The New Year 


7 

to be helpful to those who were not so happily 
or so pleasantly situated. 

She set about to carry out this purpose at 
once, and went to call on her friend, Rosa 
Alvarez, with the express purpose of inviting 
her home to dinner that day. This was en¬ 
tirely in keeping with the hospitable Mexican’s 
idea of beginning the new year. 

Juanita and Rosa were very close friends, 
though Rosa’s father was a man of much more 
humble occupation than Senor Jiminez. He 
was a carpenter by trade. He earned #1.50 
Mexican money per day, or about seventy-five 
cents in American currency. Her mother was 
an industrious woman, and in order to add to 
the income of the family, she took in laundry 
work. 

The Alvarez family was, however, a happy 
one. The father was not given to pulque¬ 
drinking and gambling, like some of his neigh¬ 
bours, and he spent no money on lottery 


8 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


tickets, cock-fights, or bull-fights. He was a 
plain, practical man, not given to extravagance, 
and, while some of his fellow workmen had 
their belongings in pawn most of the time, this 
industrious artisan was saving money, and 
rightly expected some day to exchange his 
vivienda (tenement flat) of four rooms for a 
home of his own in the suburbs of the city. 

Juanita found Rosa at home. She well de¬ 
served the pretty name that had been given 
her. She was a girl ten years of age, with hair 
as black as the polished wing of a raven, deep 
dark eyes, and a complexion like a blush rose. 
Like many Mexican children, she also had 
pretty teeth. Juanita’s own name had been 
given her because she was so petite and simpa- 
tica , the last a term that is scarcely translatable, 
but which means popular, lovable, etc. 

Juanita also found at home Rosa’s younger 
brother, Francisco, who was commonly called 
by his nickname, Panchito. He was invited 


The New Year 


9 

by Juanita to dine with Rosa at the Jiminez 
home. 

You may be sure the invitation was gladly 
accepted, for rarely did they have an oppor¬ 
tunity for such a pleasant time. 

As Juanita ran along with her little friends, 
she stooped to pick a deep pink rosebud, which 
she laughingly pressed to the blushing cheek 
of her playmate as if to see which rose was 
the loveliest. Juanita was not as pretty as 
Rosa, but she was so entirely unselfish that 
no envy entered her happy thought. 

The children gathered little yellow roses and 
red roses from Juanita’s garden, entwining 
them with honeysuckle, and into the centre 
of the blooming, blushing flowers they set a 
couple of glorious gladioli. 

“ Come right into the house,” said Juanita, 
as they arrived at the door of the Jiminez 
home. “ It is now noon, and I think our 
dinner will be all ready. We are to eat by our- 


io Our Little Mexican Cousin 


selves, as papa is at the store and mamma is 
not in just now.” 

So Rosa and Panchito followed their hostess 
into the sunny dining-room, where they found 
the table well-laden with good things. 

The tramp had given the children splendid 
appetites, and they enjoyed their dinner very 
much. Vegetable soup was first served, then 
egg omelette, with rice cooked with tomatoes. 
They had roasted veal and potatoes, with 
lettuce salad. 

But the dish of the day was mole , a spicy 
food made up with turkey or chicken and 
prepared with a sauce which had numerous 
ingredients, such as tomatoes, chili peppers of 
two kinds, cloves, chocolate, cumin, raisins, 
almonds, garlic, and one or two other spices. 
It was eaten with tortillas, the flat unleavened 
bread of the lower classes in Mexico, which 
is just like the chupatties of India and other 
Eastern countries. 


The New Year 


ii 


Then the children had a course of frijoles 
(Mexican beans), while the dessert was com¬ 
posed of fruit jellies and custards with seasoned 
gelatines. The sweetmeats were in fancy shapes, 
and Mexican children, like all others, are very 
fond of their dulces. 

When the children had been given their 
dulces, Juanita suggested that they sit out 
upon the balcony, to which there was entrance 
from the dining-room through a low window. 
Here they could enjoy the fresh air and watch 
with childish pleasure the changing scenes of 
the Mexican street. 

The children handed some of the dulces 
out through the bars of the balcony to the 
poor children who stood around suggestively. 
Dulces is the one word that carries more sug¬ 
gestion to the hearts of Mexican children than 
almost any other in their language. 

The home-made candies which had been 
provided for Juanita and her friends were 


12 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


made from Mexican sugar, which is the best 
in the world, though American sugar is im¬ 
ported for the manufacture of American con¬ 
fectionery. On all family or social occasions 
dulces are passed around on small trays or 
plates. Birthdays, saints’ days, and dances 
are always thus sweetened. The native con¬ 
fectionery includes even fruits and sweet pota¬ 
toes cooked in syrup and encrusted in sugar. 

These Mexicans did not chew gum, though 
millions of pounds of the product of the zapote- 
tree are annually consumed by young Americans. 

Among the children who were thus remem¬ 
bered by Juanita and her little friends were 
some newsboys. Newsboys were unknown in 
Mexico ten years ago, but these busy, noisy 
little fellows are now found everywhere. Poor, 
ragged, and often hungry, but always resource¬ 
ful, this waif of the byways will shout the 
names of his papers, but is not allowed to yell 
their contents, as his American cousin does. 



A FRUIT-VENDER 















































* 





























The New Year 


13 


Panchito knew very well how sharp was 
the Mexican newsboy's struggle for existence, 
for on some occasions he had sold papers him¬ 
self. Like Panchito, many of these youngsters 
had parents living, but they took no more than 
a passing interest in their children. 

The Mexican newsboy does not get his 
name registered in the accident books of the 
police. He is too wide-awake for that. Even 
among these children of five to seven years of 
age, the instinct of self-preservation is well- 
grounded, and the passing carriages and street¬ 
cars have no terrors for him. The street 
belongs to him, and no stray dog knows better 
than he the art of getting out of the road. 

Their sweetmeats consumed, Rosa and 
Panchito remained with Juanita a part of the 
afternoon, passing the time in simple childish 
games. When they finally went to their more 
humble home, there were at least three very 
happy children in the City of Mexico. 


CHAPTER II. 

AT SCHOOL 

cc Come now, my little daughter, school be¬ 
gins to-day, and it is high time you were up 
and getting ready for it.” 

These were the first words Juanita heard on 
the Monday morning following New Year’s 
Day. As she opened her eyes, she saw her 
mother’s smiling face over her. 

The girl knew that, though the face was 
pleasant and the tone a cheery one, her 
mother’s words were not to be lightly re¬ 
garded. So she quickly hopped out of bed 
and got ready for breakfast. She was the 
more willing to do this because, though she 
liked to play as well as any one, she loved to 

14 


At School 


15 


go to school and enjoyed there the compan¬ 
ionship of other children of her own age. She 
also appreciated the opportunity which was 
afforded her to learn those things which would 
help to make her life useful to herself and to 
others. Juanita was able to see how by faith¬ 
ful application to her studies she would be 
better enabled to carry out her new year's res¬ 
olution of helpfulness to the less fortunate. 

With a good-bye kiss from mamma, Juanita 
started in good season for the schoolhouse, 
which was only a few blocks distant. She 
went a little out of her way, however, to call 
for her friends, Rosa and Panchito. 

There were about fifty children at the open¬ 
ing day. As they went in each boy or girl ran 
up to the teacher to salute her. The girls 
kissed her, and the boys bowed and said, 
“ Buenos diets.” They all brought her lovely 
flowers, from the elegant and expensive camel¬ 
lias and gardenias down to the poppies, dah- 


16 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


lias, and daisies. Rich or poor, each pupil 
brought some floral offering to the teacher. 

On this opening day the children found it 
hard to get down to routine work. That they 
might not get too uneasy, and thus disturb the 
order of the school, the teacher took a little 
time to tell them something about the early 
heroes of Mexican independence. 

She said the spirit of independence, which is 
so manifest in England and America, was born 
in Mexico nearly as early as in its northern 
neighbour, with, perhaps, far greater reason 
for it. 

“ One of the earliest and most famous of 
our heroes,” said the teacher, “ was Hidalgo. 
His father was a farmer of Guanajuato, where 
Hidalgo was born in 1753. The boy was 
educated for the priesthood, and took holy 
orders in young manhood. 

“ Hidalgo set a good example to you chil¬ 
dren by improving his opportunities for educa- 


At School 


17 


tion, and, strangely enough, considering his 
surroundings, he acquired many liberal and 
advanced ideas. As he was a fearless man, he 
did not hesitate to make public his views 
concerning vital questions. For this he was 
denounced by his conservative and narrow¬ 
minded religious superiors. 

“ In 1810, Hidalgo, in company with Al- 
lende, a kindred spirit with similar notions of 
independence, at the head of eighty men, 
raised the cry, c Down with false govern¬ 
ment ! * 

cc A moblike army of fifty thousand men or 
more was soon formed, and succeeded in tak¬ 
ing possession of Hidalgo’s native city. Inde¬ 
pendence was declared, but this raw, undisci¬ 
plined, poorly equipped army was no match 
for the forces of the Spanish government. 
The revolution was finally put down, and 
ended in Hidalgo’s execution in the year 
1811. 


18 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


cc Can any of you tell me,” asked the teacher, 
“ where Hidalgo’s body lies ? ” 

Up went several hands. 

“ You may tell us, Francisco.” 

“ In the great cathedral in this city,” was 
the boy’s response. 

“ Yes, years after his execution, Hidalgo’s 
body was raised and given solemn burial in 
Mexico’s grandest shrine—just as in London 
Westminster Abbey has received the mortal 
remains of England’s kings and heroes. 

“ But though crushed for the time being,” 
continued the teacher, “ the spirit of inde¬ 
pendence was not destroyed, and in later 
years other brave and intrepid leaders arose 
and led Mexico on in the march toward 
freedom. 

“ Many of them met shameful death at the 
hands of the Spanish rulers, but to-day Mexico 
honours their memory. Over the door of the 
birthplace of one of these martyrs, Agustin de 


At School 


19 

Yturbide, who was shot as a traitor, there is 
now placed the inscription: 

“ c LIBERTADOR DE MEXICO.' 

“ A later liberty-loving hero, who accom¬ 
plished much, was President Benito Juarez. 
He is sometimes called the Lincoln of Mexico. 
He will always be held in reverence for his 
sublime career, and his life is a standing inspira¬ 
tion to Mexican boys. Until he was twelve 
years of age Juarez was a barefooted, bareheaded 
boy among the mountains of Oaxaca. He was 
born on a couch of straw in 1806, his cradle 
rocked by breezes and canopied with skies of 
eternal summer. 

“ But this Indian boy was good, and had 
the genius of gentleness as well as the armour 
of honesty and the courage of his convictions. 
Forced to the front by natural-born ability, 
the boy became a man upon whom the nation 
rested, a rock upon which the republic built. 


20 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


“ As the Magna Charta was forced by the 
best thought of England from a conservative 
king, so the Laws of Reform, proclaimed by 
Juarez in 1859, accomplished much for the 
poorer classes of our country.” 

Much more than this the teacher told to the 
school-children, who were so interested in the 
stories that they took no notice of the passing 
time. Nevertheless, they were glad when the 
closing signal was given, and, after filing to 
the street in an orderly manner, rushed to 
their homes to repeat to admiring parents the 
wonderful tales of Hidalgo and Yturbide and 
Juarez. 

Happy days followed for the children, made 
joyous by their studious application and their 
ready obedience to the teacher. At half-past 
ten every day the boys had recess, after which 
the girls were given theirs. 

For the information of the young reader, it 
may be said that education was made com- 


At School 


21 


pulsory in Mexico by President Diaz in 1891. 
Until that time there was no systematic work 
of the kind among the Mexican Indians. 

The Aztecs had two classes of schools: the 
Calmecac, where the nobles received instruction 
in arts of war, and the Telpuchalli, where the 
people received instruction in history, elo¬ 
quence, picture-writing, geography, and astron¬ 
omy, highly tinctured with astrology. The 
discipline was very strict. These were mixed 
schools. 

In the sixteenth century the Roman Catholic 
priests introduced writing and arithmetic along 
with their catechisms, a sort of forced growth. 
In the eighteenth century Viceroy Revillagigedo 
showed Mexico to have a population of four 
million, with only ten schools. 

Later the Compania Lancasteriana made an 
effort for uniform education in Mexico, and 
in 1896 their schools were taken up by the 
government of the republic. In 1895 in the 


22 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

Federal District there were but three hundred 
people to the thousand who could read and 
write. 

Schools of the primary grade are free, and 
children from six to sixteen years of age are 
obliged to attend. The compulsory studies 
are morals, civic duties, arithmetic, Spanish, 
reading, writing, elementary geometry, geogra¬ 
phy, elementary sciences, history of Mexico, 
and drawing and objective lessons. Corporal 
punishment is prohibited by law, and the 
teachers use moral suasion, detention after 
school-hours, lowering of marks, and suspen¬ 
sion for a few days. There is scarcely any 
permanent expulsion. 


CHAPTER III. 


MAKING DRAWN-WORK 

“ Mamma,” said Juanita one day after school, 
“ may I go over to Sarita’s a little while ? 
She says her mother will show me how to 
make drawn-work.” 

Juanita’s mother knew that Sefiora Ortiz, 
Sarita’s mother, was very skilful in all kinds 
of Mexican fancy work, and was willing that 
her daughter should learn how to use the 
needle and embroidery materials. 

“Yes, you may go,” said Senora Jiminez, 
“ but you must not bother Sarita’s mother 
about her work. You know that she is a 
widow and is obliged to support herself and 
her children by doing fancy work. 

“ This drawn-work which you want to learn 
23 


24 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


how to make is very popular with visitors from 
America and other countries, and Senora Ortiz 
sells much of it to them.” 

cc All right, mamma, I’ll remember what you 
say. Perhaps sometime I may be able to find 
customers for her. You know papa often 
brings American visitors to our house.” 

So through the streets Juanita hurried, and 
soon came to Sarita’s home. This was even 
more humble than that of her friend Rosa. 
Here in three small rooms lived Senora Ortiz, 
together with her two daughters, Sarita and 
Maria, and her son Carlos. Sarita was thirteen 
years old, just the age of Juanita, and Carlos 
was eight. Maria, the baby of the family, was 
only three. 

Juanita tapped at the door, which was 
quickly opened by her young friend, who 
greeted her with a hearty kiss. In the centre 
of the room was placed a large frame made of 
thin strips of board and mounted on four legs. 


Making Drawn - work 25 

Over this frame was tightly stretched a piece 
of linen cloth. 

At one side of the frame sat Sarita’s mother, 
who gave Juanita a cordial welcome and in¬ 
vited her to take a seat opposite. At one end 
of the frame Sarita sat down, for she had 
become quite skilful in this work and gave her 
mother much help in the hours when she was 
not in school. 

cc Sarita has already told me,” said Senora 
Ortiz, “ that you want to learn how to make 
drawn-work. I am glad that you want to do 
this, for, if there is one thing in which Mexican 
women take pride, it is their skill in fancy 
work of all kinds.” 

“ We have a sewing teacher in school,” said 
Juanita, “ and I like to do the plain work she 
gives us, but I also want to learn to make the 
drawn-work. I am sure mamma will be very 
much pleased if I can do anything which will 
add to the beauty of our home furnishings. 


26 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

Then perhaps sometime I may be able to 
make an altar-cloth for our church.” 

Senora Ortiz gave Juanita a few simple 
directions, explaining to her that she could not 
expect to do fine work for a long time, for 
it required experience as well as deftness. She 
set her to drawing threads in a portion of the 
linen where the work was comparatively plain. 

“ Drawing the threads is the fundamental 
work,” the senora said. “ This is slow and 
laborious, especially when the weave of the 
linen is fine. If a plain piece of cloth is used, 
the work is easier. The drawing of the threads 
prepares the background or field, upon which 
to operate. This is the mechanical part of 
the work. 

“ Then comes the designing upon the ground¬ 
work thus prepared. Combinations of straight 
lines and small curves, as in elementary pen¬ 
manship, are used in the simpler work, but 
sometimes intricate designs are introduced. 



MAKING DRAWN -WORK 















. 










• ■ i? U 



















♦ 








. 

































" 





Making Drawn-work 27 

We often copy from flowers and scenery. One 
of the oldest patterns is the cross and crown, 
which is also one of the prettiest and most 
solid, for the weave is close and washes well. 
It consists of a Maltese cross and an orna¬ 
mented ring alternating. 

“ Instead of the ring or crown, we sometimes 
leave a cuadro or block where the threads are 
not drawn. Another favourite design is the 
paloma or dove with outstretched wings, and 
the espiga or the ear of wheat design is much 
used, made in the form of a wreath. The 
daisy design is often combined with cross and 
crown. After you have had a little practice, 
I will show you how to work a forget-me-not 
pattern upon a handkerchief.” 

Juanita worked away faithfully under the 
directions given her for about an hour, Sarita 
and her mother meanwhile steadily toiling on. 
At the same time little Maria was playing 
about the room, watching her elders with her 


28 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

sparkling black eyes, and prattling away as 
only a little child can. 

At the end of the hour Juanita said: “ I 
must go now, for mamma likes to have me at 
home at tea-time. I thank you very much 
for what you have shown me, and I hope you 
will let me come again.” 

“ Indeed, we shall be glad to have you,” 
said Sefiora Ortiz. “ Sarita’s friends are always 
welcome here. I know that she is specially 
fond of you.” 

Sarita blushed prettily at this, but she ur¬ 
gently added her own invitation to her moth¬ 
er’s words. 

Just before Juanita was to take her leave, 
Sarita’s brother Carlos came rushing in, his 
olive-tinted cheeks aglow with excitement and 
his eyes sparkling under the wide brim of his 
tall, bell-crowned hat. 

“ Oh, mamma,” he said, “ I have just car¬ 
ried a valise from the railway station to the 


Making Drawn-work 


29 


Humboldt Hotel for an English gentleman, 
and he gave me twenty-five centavos. He 
says if I will come around to-morrow he will 
have some more errands for me.” 

Carlos was always greatly delighted when he 
was able to earn a little money, for it meant 
just so much more help and happiness for his 
hard-working mother. She was wise enough 
to sympathize and rejoice with her boy in all 
his successes, but she was also careful not to let 
his ambition to earn money interfere with his 
school work. 

Bidding her friends good-bye, Juanita hastily 
passed out the door. As she walked up the 
street, she turned for a last look and caught 
a glimpse of little Maria throwing kisses after 
her. 

The girl did not dally on her way home, 
though she saw much to interest her on the 
streets. Some of the sights excited her tender 
sympathies. Many little boys, much younger 


30 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


than Juanita, were going about with heavy 
bundles on their backs, early in life being com¬ 
pelled to become cargadores , or burden-bearers, 
like their fathers. 

If Juanita had been in some of the cities of 
Northern Mexico, where rain seldom falls, she 
would have seen boys acting as water-carriers. 
They carry two large cans of water hung on 
to a clumsy wooden yoke laid across the 
shoulders. 

The donkey-boys were a more pleasant 
sight, and Juanita smiled as she saw them skil¬ 
fully guiding the little beasts about the streets. 
No grown man could have handled them any 
better. 

Soon, however, she arrived at her own 
home, where she found her papa returned 
from his store. Glad as she always was to see 
him, she was especially affectionate at this 
time, as she remembered that her friend Sarita 
had no father to love and cherish her. 


Making Drawn-work 31 

Family relations in Mexico are very affec¬ 
tionate and close. The children live with 
their parents until they are married, meanwhile 
regarding all that is in the house as their very 
own. In this respect home life in Mexico is 
like home life in the East, as pictured in the 
parable of the prodigal son, where the father 
said to the murmuring brother, “ All I have is 
thine.” 

Juanita, like the daughters in other Mexican 
homes, was watched with jealous care, and was 
known as “ pedazo del corazon ,” or “ piece of 
the heart,” of the parents. 

During the evening meal Juanita told her 
father what she had been doing during the 
day, — about the visit to Sarita, the lesson in 
making drawn-work, the poor little cargadores , 
the donkey-boys, as well as about her school 
work. 

In this her father was always much inter¬ 
ested, especially in her history lessons. He 


32 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

often took occasion to tell her tales of the 
early history of Mexico. To-night he told 
her that Aztec mythology mentioned traditions 
of the flood, the ark, the dove, the green leaf, 
the temptation of Eve, and the subsequent 
sorrow. 

He also told her of the pyramids of Mexico, 
which are said to be as old as those of Egypt, 
and are almost as large. The supposition that 
the Mexicans sprang from Asiatic races, who 
brought to this continent the old Biblical sto¬ 
ries, is sustained by various authorities. 

About the year 1500 b. c., the Olmecas, of 
Tartar origin, superseded the Mexican giants. 
They inhabited the table-lands, swarmed in its 
ghostly forests, and like wild birds lived upon 
its silent lakes. 

After twenty centuries the Aztec shifted into 
the scene, drifting southward from the Califor- 
nias. Half-hunter, half-fisherman, he reached 
Mexico, where his troubles began. He was 


Making Drawn-work 33 

like an Ishmaelite. Five hundred years of 
wandering found him entering the Valley of 
Mexico, and it took him one hundred years to 
make the circuit of the valley from Texcoco 
to Chapultepec and from Tlaltelolco to Ixta- 
palapa. 

In 1325 the Aztecs selected as the site of 
their city an island located between the present 
cathedral site and the plaza of Santo Domingo. 
Upon a rock they found the legendary eagle, 
its claws fastened upon the branch of a thorny 
cactus and in its beak a writhing serpent. 
Their little city was named Tenochtitlan. 

Mexico City, which is built on the site of 
that ancient town, is really a great and beauti¬ 
ful city, created in 1523 by the Spaniards. In 
1600 the city had only 15,000 people, 8,000 
Aztecs and 7,000 Spaniards, but now its popu¬ 
lation is 450,000. 

All this Senor Jiminez told Juanita while 
they ate their supper. Of course she asked 


34 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

him a great many questions. She would have 
been very different from other children if she 
had not. A promise was given that she might 
soon visit the National Museum, where she 
would see many relics of the time of the 
Aztecs. 


CHAPTER IV. 


A DINNER AND A RIDE 

Kings* Day, one of the brightest religious 
feast-days in Mexico, occurs in January. In 
the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church it 
is set aside for the adoration of the Gentile 
Kings or Wise Men, Gaspar, Melchor, and 
Baltazar, who were led by the star in the east 
to Bethlehem. 

This feast of the Epiphany is observed in 
the churches with unusual services; at the 
cathedral there is solemn high mass at nine 
o’clock. Mexican flags hang from the big 
dome and vaulted roofs, and appropriate ser¬ 
mons are preached. 

Aside from the religious observance of the 
holiday, there was much social gaiety, and our 


35 


36 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

young people had a large share in the good 

timesc 

Juanita’s mother made plans to entertain at 
dinner a number of her friends. As she did 
not believe in shutting the children out of the 
good times, she told her daughter that she 
could ask several of her schoolmates. Natu¬ 
rally, Juanita invited the boys and girls with 
whom we have become acquainted, — Rosa 
and Panchito Alvarez and Carlos and Sarita 
Ortiz. In addition, Senora Jiminez sent invi¬ 
tations to Senor Alvarez and to Senoras Alva¬ 
rez and Ortiz. Of course little Maria was not 
left out. 

Impatiently Juanita waited for the time to 
pass before the party. She was the more im¬ 
patient because papa had thrown out several 
hints that he was preparing a splendid surprise 
to follow the dinner. 

No matter how much she teased her father, 
she could not get him to reveal the secret. 


A Dinner and a Ride 


37 


He only smiled broadly, and put on a very 
mysterious look. Juanita tried again and again 
to guess what it might be, but all to no pur¬ 
pose. The secret could not be discovered. 

She talked with Sarita and Rosa about it, 
and even asked Panchito and Carlos what they 
supposed it could be; but the girls could only 
give vague guesses, and the boys put on a very 
superior air, saying they were not interested in 
secrets, anyway. 

If the truth were known, when the boys got 
by themselves, they puzzled and guessed as 
much as the girls, but it would never do for 
them to own that they were at all curious — 
oh, no ! 

So there was nothing to do but to wait for 
the secret to reveal itself at its own good pleas¬ 
ure. Slowly the time passed, but at last the 
holiday came, and with it the friends who were 
to dine with the Jiminez family. 

Two tables were set for the dinner. At one 


38 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


the grown members of the party were seated. 
At the other sat the young folks, with Juanita 
as hostess, and Panchito on her right. 

The tables fairly groaned with the good 
things that were placed upon them, and both 
young and old did full justice to them. What 
most interested Juanita and her friends, though, 
was the cake that was served as dessert. 

In many Mexican homes that day a large 
cake in the shape of a crown was provided. 
This was cut in as many slices as there were 
people present. A bean was hidden in the 
Kings’ Cake, which naturally some one in the 
party would draw. That person would have 
to give a party and dance to the rest within a 
stated time. This dance is called baile de los 
compadres. 

Senora Jiminez had provided no such cake 
for her own table because some of her guests 
would have been unable to give a party to such 
a company of people. But before the children 


A Dinner and a Ride 


39 


a beautiful Kings’ Cake had been placed. It 
was cut into five pieces, and to the finder of 
the hidden bean Senor Jiminez had promised 
a prize or reward. 

“ Oh, I hope I shall win,” said Carlos, 
with just a tinge of covetousness in his 
tone. 

Sarita, who sat beside him, said nothing, but 
gave him a rebuking look for the ill-mannered 
speech. 

<c I mean, I — ” But Carlos did not know 
how to qualify his remark, so he merely hung 
his head and looked ashamed. 

Juanita, sorry for the embarrassment of her 
guest, said: “ Of course we all want to find 
the bean, but shall also all be glad to con¬ 
gratulate the lucky winner.” 

At this, she passed to each one a piece of 
the fateful cake. For a few moments not a 
word was said. As each one ate there was 
anxious search for the hidden bean. Finally, 


40 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

when the cake was nearly all eaten, a joyful 
cry was given and Sarita was heard to say, “ I 
have it! I have it! ” 

Meanwhile, the older people at the other 
table had finished their meal and were looking 
on with much interest. When Senor Jiminez 
saw that Sarita was the fortunate one, he called 
her to him. 

“ I am going to tell you children now what 
the great secret is, but first will you please 
step to that window ? ” asked the senor, indi¬ 
cating the one which commanded the street 
and the front entrance. 

Sarita did as requested. A look of surprise 
came over her face, but she said nothing. 

“ What do you see ? ” 

“ A pair of fine horses.” 

“ What else ? ” 

“ A three-seated carriage.” 

“ Anything else ? ” 

“ Yes ; a coachman.” 


A Dinner and a Ride 41 

“Now I will tell you that the secret is a 
ride for all you children to the Alameda.” 

“ Oh, isn’t that splendid ? ” 

“ Fine ! ” 

“ Great! ” 

These were the exclamations from the girls 
and boys. 

“ But, papa, what about Sarita’s prize ? ” 
asked Juanita. 

<c Oh, I nearly forgot. She is to sit on the 
front seat with me.” 

Sarita thought that was a splendid reward for 
her lucky find, and thanked Senor Jiminez in 
her prettiest manner. 

Before long Senor Jiminez and his gay 
young party were seated in the roomy and 
comfortable carriage, Sarita by his side on 
the front seat. Carlos and Panchito occupied 
the second seat, and Juanita and Rosa sat 
in the rear. 

The older members of the party remained 


42 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

with Senora Jiminez while her husband took 
the children to ride. 

For Juanita, this going to ride with her 
father was no new experience, but for the 
others it was an extraordinary occasion, and 
the mere sensation of riding behind two such 
fine horses was too pleasant to describe. The 
sights along the streets seemed very different 
to them than they had in previous days when 
they were on foot. 

Many were the questions they asked of each 
other, and Senor Jiminez took pains to point 
out the objects of interest as he drove slowly 
along. 

Perhaps nothing on the way excited more 
comment than a quaint palace built of blue and 
white tiles. 

“ That house,” said Senor Jiminez, cc was 
built over a hundred years ago, and there is a 
queer story about it. 

“It seems that a certain rich man had a son. 


A Dinner and a Ride 


43 


The son was extravagant in his habits and 
squandered the money which his father allowed 
him. 

“ Finally the father's patience was exhausted, 
and he refused to provide a further supply of 
funds for his son. At the same time he gave 
him a severe lecture, winding up with an old 
Spanish proverb about the inability of spend¬ 
thrifts to build porcelain palaces. 

“ Now, with all his bad habits, the young 
man had a certain amount of pride, and he 
told his father that he could keep his old 
money. He would ask no more favours of 
him, anyway. 

“ So the son took his departure for parts 
unknown. For several years his father saw 
nothing of him. 

“ Finally, after a long time, a messenger 
called at the father's house with a note request¬ 
ing him to come to a certain street and number 
to meet an old acquaintance. On arriving at 


44 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


the place indicated, he found that it was this 
very place. In the reception-hall he found 
his son, who gave him a warm greeting and 
bade him look over the establishment. He 
also reminded his father of what he had said 
about spendthrifts and porcelain palaces. 

“ Of course the old gentleman was much 
surprised when he learned that his son was the 
builder of this palace, but he was none the less 
gratified at the young man’s success.” 

“ But where did the son get his money ? ” 
asked the practical Carlos. 

“ That part of the story we do not know,” 
was the answer; “ but we do know that that 
was a time of pirates and brigands, and I guess 
the old gentleman didn’t care to investigate 
too closely the source of his son’s fortune.” 

Many other beautiful and grand sights were 
seen along the way, as well as some that were 
picturesque and quaint. Often the pity as 
well as the curiosity of the children was excited, 


A Dinner and a Ride 45 

especially when they drove through some of 
the poorer streets. Even Carlos and Sarita 
knew little of the depth of poverty and 
wretchedness in some parts of the city. 

After awhile our party arrived at the Ala¬ 
meda. As they entered the park, Senor Jimi- 
nez told something of its history. To Juanita, 
the story was not unknown, but the other chil¬ 
dren heard it for the first time. 

“ For over three hundred years,” said Jua¬ 
nita's father, “ the Alameda has been not only a 
big breathing-place for the people of the capital, 
but its chief pleasure park. It was laid out in 
1592 under Viceroy Luis de Velasco, and 
alamos and cottonwood trees were planted; 
hence the name Alameda. The park used to 
be enclosed in a stone wall, but this was 
removed in 1885. 

<c Long years ago, when the Inquisition pre¬ 
vailed in Mexico, there were executions on the 
grounds now occupied by the western end of 


46 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

the Alameda. But those cruel chapters in 
Mexican history are well-nigh forgotten, and 
now we see no outward trace of the Inqui¬ 
sition.” 

But the glorious sight which presented itself 
to the vision of the children made these old 
stories of cruelty seem like a dream. The 
only realities to them were the beautiful green 
grass, the thick foliage of the waving trees, 
through which was caught an occasional glimpse 
of blue sky, and, above all, the ever moving 
panorama of life which passed before them. 

Many a time, on a Thursday or Sunday 
forenoon, the children had visited the park to 
hear the military band play and to see the 
crowds of people. But never had the Alameda 
presented such a sight to them as on this 
holiday. 

Hundreds of fine carriages and automobiles 
passed back and forth. In them were seated 
the most noted people of the city. Many of 


A Dinner and a Ride 


47 


the men were dressed in military uniforms 
profusely decorated with gold lace, while the 
women were dressed in the most elaborate 
costumes the country could produce. 

Then there were the multitudes of people 
on foot, laughing and chatting with each other 
or gazing at the passers-by in their carriages. 

Senor Jiminez was kept busy telling his 
young people the names of prominent people 
who rode by. As they were jogging slowly 
along he suddenly said: 

“ Look quickly, children. See that carriage 
coming toward us in which is riding the 
sturdy, military-looking man with gray hair 
and moustache. ,, 

“ The one with plumed hat and so many 
badges, and who bows to so many people ? ” 
asked Sarita. 

“ The very one. That is President Diaz. 
You all want to get a good look at him ; for 
though he is a sturdy, strong man, he is getting 


48 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


along in years, and you probably will not have 
many opportunities to see him. 

“ I want you to know that Mexico owes a 
large part of her present peace and prosperity 
to that man. Our country had practically no 
railroads until after General Diaz became Pres¬ 
ident. 

“ He is a living example of the possibilities 
of the Mexican youth. Although he was born 
in an obscure corner of the country, in the city 
of Oaxaca, by successfully meeting new condi¬ 
tions as they presented themselves, he not only 
improved himself, but lifted his country out 
of the condition of chronic revolution under 
which it had suffered from the time of its 
emancipation from Spain, in the year 1821, 
until the year 1874, when the last revolution¬ 
ary attempt ended. 

“ Much of the success for good that has fol¬ 
lowed the career of President Diaz was due to 
his boyhood training. His father and mother, 



PRESIDENT DIAZ 




























- 







































A Dinner and a Ride 


49 


although not well-to-do people, were industri¬ 
ous, frugal, and conscientious in giving young 
Porfirio as good an education as they could. 

“ As a lad he wanted to enter the army, but 
his parents placed him in the seminary to study 
for the priesthood. This did not suit him, 
and he studied law. Later he entered the 
Mexican army and became one of the most 
illustrious soldiers of the republic. 

“ When General Diaz became President, 
Mexico was so isolated from the United States 
that there were only about a dozen English- 
speaking people in the City of Mexico, while 
now in the city and vicinity are about four 
thousand Americans and English. 

“A truer patriot never lived, and at times 
when funds were scarce in the government 
treasury. President Diaz has thrown off half 
his salary, which also was done by hundreds 
of patriotic statesmen, and the financial difficul¬ 
ties were successfully overcome.” 


50 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

Carlos and Panchito were especially inter¬ 
ested in Sefior Jiminez’s talk about Diaz, and 
they gazed after the President's retreating car¬ 
riage till it was out of sight. 

Meanwhile they continued on their way 
around the park, and came to the Paseo, or 
boulevard, leading to Chapultepec. At the 
head of the street stands the great statue of 
Charles IV. 

“ That statue," said Senor Jiminez, <c has 
only one superior in the world, that of Marcus 
Aurelius in Rome. This one is about twenty- 
two feet in height and weighs forty-five thou¬ 
sand pounds. It is so big that twenty men, it 
is said, can be stuffed into its stomach of 
bronze, which has led the common people of 
Mexico to call it the c Horse of Troy.' It 
was made by Manuel Tolsa, the great architect 
and sculptor, who built the massive School of 
Mines.” 

After riding a little way along the boulevard. 


A Dinner and a Ride 51 

the horses were turned homeward. The ride 
back furnished many new and interesting sights, 
as they drove by a different route. 

The young folks were very profuse in their 
thanks for the afternoon’s outing, and all, both 
young and old, felt that the day had been 
happily and wisely spent. 


CHAPTER V. 


A VISIT TO POPOCATEPETL 

The next day Juanita and her friends had 
to return to school. This was rather irksome 
to some of them after the holiday, but it did 
not take them long to get back into the routine 
of school life. 

Juanita was the more willing to apply herself 
closely to her studies, for her father had 
promised her that on Carmen Day, if she got 
on well with lessons meanwhile, he would take 
her mother and her on a trip to Amecameca 
and Mt. Popocatepetl. 

This was an excursion they had all longed 
to take for a good while, but of course Juanita 
was especially enthusiastic over the prospect. 
She was bound that it should be no fault of 


5 2 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 53 


hers if there were any failure in the plans. So 
her teacher was really surprised at the attention 
she bestowed on her lessons. 

Holidays are frequent in Mexico, and before 
Carmen Day, which falls on February 17th, 
Candlemas Day was celebrated. 

In the United States the day is profanely 
confounded with Ground Hog Day, but in 
Mexico no such custom prevails. It is known 
as a double-cross festival and occurs forty days 
after Christmas. 

Commencing two days before, candles are 
placed at the altars of the Virgin and kept 
burning constantly before the pictures, big and 
little, of that highly honoured woman. In 
the churches processions with lighted candles 
march back and forth, and all candles needed 
for the churches for the ensuing year are 
blessed; hence the name Candlemas Day. 

But Carmen Day arrived at last, though to 
Juanita some of the days lagged dreadfully. 


54 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


The holiday is observed as the festival of 
Our Lady of Carmen, especially in the Carmen 
District of the city. It is the saint’s day of 
the wife of President Diaz, who receives gifts 
and visits and beautiful flowers. 

Juanita awoke bright and early. She needed 
no one to call her this morning. 

Quickly she hopped out of bed and ran to 
her window to have a look at the sky. Clear 
as crystal and blue as blue could be, with the 
morning sun casting its radiant beams over 
the city with a glory and beauty exceeded 
nowhere. Mexico’s clear atmosphere and blue 
sky are rivalled only in Italy. Consequently 
Mexico is sometimes called the Italy of 
America. 

In a very few moments — much quicker 
than usual —- Juanita was dressed, and promptly 
at breakfast-time she appeared in the dining¬ 
room, where her mamma and papa had just 
preceded her. She could hardly stop to give 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 55 

them the usual morning greeting before she 
said: 

“ Papa, are we surely going to Amecameca 
to-day ? ” 

“We certainly are,” was the answer, “if 
the train goes.” 

Juanita did not need her mother’s injunction 
not to loiter over her breakfast. Of necessity 
they all ate rapidly — perhaps too rapidly, for 
shortly before seven o’clock the maid told 
them that the carriage which was to convey 
them to the railway station was at the door. 

Ordinarily they would have taken the street¬ 
cars, but as the street-car service in the city 
was rather unreliable, they did not dare to 
trust to it when after an early train. 

Quickly donning their outer garments, Jua¬ 
nita and her parents got into the carriage, which 
drove off rapidly to the railway station. Here 
they arrived just in time to catch the 7.10 train 
for Amecameca. 


56 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

It was a comparatively new experience for 
Juanita to ride upon a railway train. Only a 
few times had she been out short distances 
with her father or mother. 

So every changing scene was a revelation to 
her, and as the train sped on through Ayotla 
and Santa Barbara she saw much to interest 
her, and she kept her parents busy answering 
the questions she asked them. 

As they got farther into the country, the 
green fields afforded a beautiful and refreshing 
sight. In some places, though, there were 
long stretches of barren soil which bore nothing 
but different varieties of the cactus. Among 
them the century plant, or American aloe, was 
often seen. Its bluish-green leaves were long, 
with prickly edges, and there were immense 
clusters of yellowish flowers. The branches were 
sometimes forty feet high. 

Again, Juanita would see the great maguey 
plantations, from which plant is made pulque. 






ON A MAGUEY PLANTATION 














































































































. . ' . . I 







A Visit to Popocatepetl 57 

the national drink of Mexico. She already 
knew that pulque-drinking was a terrible curse 
to the country, and she learned from her father 
that if its sale were prohibited it would mean 
the ruin of thousands of owners of these 
maguey plantations. At least, that was what 
they said; but, even if it were true, the poorer 
classes of the people would be incalculably 
benefited, as they spend #20,000 a day on the 
liquor. 

But the train kept steadily on. La Com- 
pania was passed, and Temamatla in its turn. 
Then Tenango and Tepopula were left behind. 
Finally, at quarter-past nine, the trainman 
shouted “ Amecameca,” and without delay 
Juanita and her parents left the cars. 

They were immediately surrounded by a 
crowd of donkey-boys, who besought the priv¬ 
ilege of acting as guide. 

Beckoning to one of the brightest appearing 
lads, Senor Jiminez placed in his hand a silver 


58 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

coin and told him that he wanted three don¬ 
keys, — one for the senora, one for the sefio- 
rita, and one for himself to ride. 

With a broad smile and flourishing bow 
young Juan said: 

“ You shall have them at once, your Excel¬ 
lency.” 

He went at once to a near-by shed, and in 
less time than it takes to tell it returned with 
the desired animals all saddled and bridled for 
his party. 

<c Now we want you to lead us by the best 
way to Mt. Popocatepetl,” said Senor Jiminez. 
“ Of course we do not expect to ascend it 
to-day, for we have not made preparations 
for that; neither have we the time.” 

“ Yes, senor, I understand,” said Juan. “ I 
show many people the way. I take you where 
you get the grand view. Then you ride across 
the valley to the low hills, where you find 
a resting-place and get some dinner. Yes, 



u 


THE WONDERFUL VISION OF THE VOLCANO 
POPOCATEPETL.” 







. 















































































































A Visit to Popocatepetl 59 


senor, I know.” And again Juan doffed his 
broad-brimmed hat and showed a long, even 
row of white teeth in his inimitable smile. 

So, after all were safely mounted on the 
little but sturdy beasts, they passed on away 
from the little cluster of houses that sur¬ 
rounded the station. 

They had gone but a little way, when, as 
they turned a corner, the wonderful vision of 
the volcano Popocatepetl burst upon their 
sight. 

At once they halted, and in silence they 
gazed upon it. It was too grand, too awe¬ 
inspiring, for any words. Even to Senor and 
Senora Jiminez, who had seen the mountain 
many times before, it was an entrancing view 
— one of those sights which, though old, is 
ever new. 

It was a picture that would ever haunt the 
memory. 

Against the foreground were the pin and 


6o Our Little Mexican Cousin 


needle branches of the pines and cedars of 
Amecameca, the latter brought as saplings from 
the forests of Lebanon centuries ago by the 
Spanish conquerors, and which now are large 
trees. In the centre of this wonderful picture, 
like a flattened mosaic, was the tiled town of 
Amecameca, while fixed against the horizon 
was the cold white brow of the volcano with 
its crown of snow, a crown sent down from 
heaven. 

Between the town and mountain stretched 
before them a wide valley, fertile, and dotted 
with numerous haciendas. Beyond, and be¬ 
neath the great peak, stood the foot-hills, 
sparsely inhabited and affording a poor living 
to those who dwelt among them. 

Senor Jiminez explained to his daughter 
that the mountain was over three miles above 
the level of the sea, and that the crater, which 
was three miles in circumference, was over one 
thousand feet in depth. 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 61 


After gazing on the wonderful sight for a 
long time, the senor ordered the donkey-boy 
to lead on, and they took up their march 
across the valley to the foot-hills. 

There was little conversation on the way, so 
majestic was the view constantly before them. 
They rode on and on over the winding, dusty 
roads until our friends had inward feelings that 
it must be dinner-time. 

“ When are we to get our dinner, papa ? ” 
asked Juanita. 

“ That’s what I have been wondering, too,” 
said mamma. 

“ I was just thinking it was time to find 
out,” said Senor Jiminez. “Juan, when are 
we to get that dinner you promised us ? ” 

“ Very soon, senor. Just after we get over 
this hill,” was the smiling response. 

And sure enough, as the donkeys passed 
over the crown of the hill there came into 
sight an adobe hut of moderate size, sur- 


62 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


rounded by the low green shrubbery of the 
locality. 

As they halted before the hut, there ap¬ 
peared on the scene an Indian woman and 
a whole swarm of scantily clad children. 
These Juan proudly introduced as his mother 
and brothers and sisters. His father, he said, 
was at work on a plantation down in the 
valley. They were all as proud of their Aztec 
origin as Juanita was of her Castilian fore¬ 
fathers. 

Though all the children of this family 
seemed happy and contented, as Juanita’s 
father told her afterward, life among the In¬ 
dian babies is not always smooth. They are 
survivors of a race long relegated to the past, 
and yet they carry with them all the pathos and 
the dignity that surrounded the best of them. 

The Indian babies are the most pathetic 
things in the world. Although reflecting life, 
they seem like bundles of dead matter, so 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 63 


quiet are they in their misery. In Mexico, as 
soon as possible after birth, the Indian baby 
is rolled in a zarape or blanket, and the load is 
carried on the back of the plodding mother as 
she comes into the capital with her vegetables 
and flowers, while the father trudges ahead 
with his own load. This baby cries little or 
none, and simply seems to vegetate. But as 
he is free from the restraint of extra clothing 
he toughens from day to day like a little 
animal, and, as a rule, the Mexican babies are 
well formed and healthy. 

As he grows up life is never serious to him. 
As a boy the baby follows his father’s trade 
and the girl’s thought follows the slowly un¬ 
folding and uneventful life of the mother. 

“ Mother,” said Juan, <c the senor and his 
family are very hungry. It is a long time 
since they had breakfast, and they have come 
on a long journey, — all the way from the 
great city. Can you give them a dinner ? ” 


64 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

“ Why, certainly, if they are willing to put 
up with what I can give them,” was the reply. 

“ We are hungry enough to eat almost any¬ 
thing,” said Senora Jiminez. 

“ Oh, mother, this is like a regular picnic, to 
come out here and have dinner, isn’t it ? ” said 
Juanita. 

“ Indeed it is, only better, for we have not 
got to bother with preparing the lunch,” was 
the reply. 

Meanwhile, all had alighted from their don¬ 
keys, which Juan led away and tethered where 
they could get generous forage. 

At the same time the Indian mother set 
about preparing the meal for her guests. 

The visitors seated themselves upon the 
ground in front of the hut. In a few 
moments Juan returned and proceeded to set 
up on two benches a rough table of boards 
which were lying about. 

Before very long the rude table was set with 



MAKING TORTILLAS 

















































































































A Visit to Popocatepetl 65 

such viands as the Indian woman was able to 
produce, and the Jiminez family invited to 
partake. It was a very different sort of meal 
from their usual ones at home, but hunger is a 
splendid appetizer, and they ate with a relish 
the frijoles and tortillas. 

Tortillas are similar to the unleavened bread 
of the East. They are made from corn put 
into lime-water and boiled half an hour. The 
husks are then removed and the ears washed 
with cold water. The corn is ground by hand 
on a stone metate, and the dough broken into 
pieces is formed into round cakes about six 
inches in diameter and one-eighth of an inch 
thick. 

Juanita would have been much interested if 
she could have seen Juan's mother and older 
sister slowly and laboriously grinding the 
corn. 

The tortilla is toasted until it is brown, and 
it is as necessary to Mexican tables as bread 


66 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


to the American. The Mexicans take up 
their spicy dishes with the tortilla, using it as 
a spoon, and finally they eat the spoon ! 

When prepared according to the Mexican 
method frijoles are very palatable, and rich 
and poor eat these brown beans with gusto. 
The principal varieties of frijoles are the valle 
gorda and the valle chica. 

The beans are put into a pot and covered 
with water, and boiled four hours, more water 
being constantly added. They are then fried 
in lard and eaten with their own gravy, or 
mashed and fried with onions. 

Corn is the staff of life for these Mexican 
Indians, and is served in many forms, often 
highly seasoned with the chili. Of the three 
kinds of tamales the best are those prepared 
with chili. Some were served for Juanita and 
her parents. The corn is ground very fine; 
the dough is prepared in one vessel and the 
meat in another, the latter being seasoned. 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 67 

Fresh corn husks are used. These are washed 
clean and the inside lined with the dough. 
Finely minced meat is placed inside, and the 
husks rolled like a big cigarette. They are 
then boiled an hour and eaten hot. 

All the while our friends were feasting their 
bodies they were also feasting their eyes upon 
the majestic Popocatepetl, which towered above 
them in all its snowy, glittering grandeur. 
They could not help thinking how terrible 
would be the result if suddenly from its crater 
should belch forth the fires so long extinct. 

It was no unknown thing for Mexican vol¬ 
canoes to do just that thing. Senor Jiminez 
told how, in the middle of the eighteenth cen¬ 
tury, the site of the volcano Jorullo was cov¬ 
ered with fields of cotton, indigo, sugar-cane, 
all made fertile by generous irrigation. Sud¬ 
denly, without warning, the mountain cast forth 
a stream of lava and fire, laying waste the land, 
and changing the beautiful green landscape 


68 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


to a burning, desolate wilderness. Thou¬ 
sands of dollars’ worth of property were des¬ 
troyed and many lives lost in the catastrophe. 

This was rather a depressing story, and 
Juanita was a little nervous after hearing it, 
but her spirits were soon restored as she 
watched the antics and games of the little 
Indian children as they played about the hut. 

The meal ended, Senor Jiminez gave Juan’s 
mother generous payment. Then he said to 
his wife and daughter, with a glance at the 
declining sun, “We must now be starting for 
home. The train leaves Amecameca at about 
quarter of five, and if we go now we can make 
it without hurrying the donkeys.” 

Juan overheard the remark and took the 
hint without further orders. He soon brought 
up the donkeys, who also were rested and 
refreshed by their noonday meal. 

At once the travellers mounted and took 
up their line of march back over the morning’s 


A Visit to Popocatepetl 69 

trail, down the hills into the valley, and up 
again into the town of Amecameca. Here 
they arrived in ample time for their train, 
which rapidly whirled them once more to their 
beautiful City of Mexico. At seven o’clock 
they were home again and eager for the supper 
which the cook had ready upon the table. 

Though the day had been a happy one for 
Juanita, it had also been fatiguing, and she 
needed no urging to go early to bed. But 
she did not fail to give mamma and papa their 
good-night kiss and to thank them over and 
over for her splendid outing — one that she 
would never forget. 


CHAPTER VI. 

SIGHT - SEEING 

For several weeks Juanita’s life moved on 
with little incident to call for special mention. 
She went to school as usual, called on her 
young friends, at Sarita’s making considerable 
progress in learning drawn-work. 

One day, late in the spring, she was invited 
to the home of Rosa and Panchito to see a 
wonderful sight, — the arrival of a little stranger 
who would make them a long visit. The 
Alvarez children were wild with delight over 
the baby sister. 

A week later the grandmother and the 
happy children took the little one to the civil 
register and entered her arrival. It wore its 
best clothes on that occasion. 


70 


Sight - seeing 


71 


Two weeks afterward there was a baptism. 
The family took their new treasure to the 
nearest church. The padrinos , or godfather 
and godmother, were important personages on 
that occasion. The entrance to the church 
was crowded with poor people who had learned 
that a christening was to occur. Juanita and 
Sarita and Carlos were present, as well as a 
number of other friends who had been invited 
by card. 

The father handed the priest five pesos for 
himself and his assistants. The priest then 
recited in Latin from the ritual, afterward call¬ 
ing the name of the child, Ramona. After 
pouring some water on the baby's head and 
neck, the priest rubbed the neck and the little 
mouth with salt, and pronounced the bene¬ 
diction, thus completing the ceremony. 

As the small party left the church, the crowd 
of poor people called out “ El Bolo , El Bolo .” 
Then the godfather gave each a centavo or 


72 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


two, all new coins which he had brought for 
that purpose. After the baptismal supper 
candies were served and cards with coins given 
as souvenirs. 

To Juanita all this was a new and delightful 
experience, and it formed a topic of conversa¬ 
tion with her and her friends for a long time. 

Soon after the pretty baptismal ceremony 
and while Ramona was a baby in arms, Juanita 
became acquainted with two American girls, 
Grace and Louise Winthrop, daughters of an 
American merchant who was visiting Mexico 
on business, and who had thus met Senor 
Jiminez. 

The girls were curious to see the sights of 
Mexico, so a little party was made up, includ¬ 
ing Florence Mason, also an American girl, 
who was born in Mexico and who acted as 
interpreter between the children. Sarita and 
Rosa were in the party, also Carlos and Pan- 
chito, their brothers. 


Sight - seeing 


73 


First they visited the national palace, which 
stands on the site of the “ new house ” of 
Montezuma. The old-time cedar ceilings put 
in place by Cortez are disappearing, giving 
place to rich frescoes and rare furnishings, and 
elevators are taking the place of the broad 
stone stairs. The offices of President Diaz 
are in the palace, and there he holds public 
receptions. 

The children gazed with a good deal of in¬ 
terest on the portraits of historic personages 
hung in the palace, and the two American 
girls were especially delighted to see a painting 
of Washington among them. 

In the same block, which is six hundred feet 
square, are two barracks for soldiers and the 
fire brigade. On the front are three large en¬ 
trances open all day to the public. 

Next they visited the “ Thieves’ Market,” 
to the south of the palace, where the rarest of 
things may be purchased. 


74 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

To the American girls the strange scenes 
and customs were a continual source of delight. 
On the street they saw all kinds of costumes, 
— the cavalier clad in buckskin pantaloons 
seamed with double rows of silver or gold 
coins, wearing gay vests, sombreros, and 
clanking spurs; elegantly gowned senoritas in 
flashing carriages and swift automobiles; 
soldiers in brilliant uniforms; and an occa¬ 
sional Aztec girl added novelty to the 
scene. 

But the National Museum was the chief 
object of attraction for our party at this time. 
Here they saw the famous Aztec calendar 
stone and other curiosities and relics of cen¬ 
turies of ancient Mexican history. Here also 
they saw some very interesting objects pertain¬ 
ing to modern history, such as Maximilian’s 
gala coach, his silver service, etc. 

The boys were particularly attracted to the 
mementos of the unfortunate Maximilian. 


Sight - seeing 


75 


An old attendant standing near observed their 
interest, and said to them, “ Ah, he was the 
brave man ! ” 

Observing the look of inquiry on the boys* 
faces at his exclamation, the old man proceeded 
to tell them how he had been a soldier in the 
patriot army of Mexico in the time of the 
emperor. He had witnessed Maximilian’s 
death, and had seen him give the gold coins 
to the soldiers who acted as his executioners. 

Like many of the Mexican opponents of 
Maximilian and his government, the old man’s 
feeling for the dead emperor was one of pity 
rather than hatred, and many a tear is shed in 
Mexico to-day over the sad fate of the unfor¬ 
tunate Empress Carlotta, — driven mad by 
her misfortunes. 

The old man, made bold by the attention 
of the boys, led the party of young people 
about the museum, pointing out here and 
there the most interesting objects. Many of 


j 6 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

the stories of the Aztecs and the Spanish 
viceroys of old time he was able to tell. 

“ That,” pointing to an antique sword hung 
upon the wall, “ was the property of the 
Viceroy Revillagigedo.” 

“ What a name! How did they ever pro¬ 
nounce it ? ” put in one of the American 
girls. 

“This viceroy ruled here in 1787,” con¬ 
tinued the attendant, not noticing the inter¬ 
ruption. “He was famous for his unusual 
sense of justice. On one occasion a certain 
Indian had found a bag of golden ounces. 
The Indian was an honest man, and, discover¬ 
ing the owner to be a Spanish gentleman, he 
returned the gold to him. 

“ The Spaniard was not so honest, and, as 
the bag was returned to him, he quietly slipped 
two gold pieces into his pocket. Then, instead 
of rewarding him, he charged the Indian with 
theft, and kicked him out of the house. 


Sight-seeing 


77 


“The Indian saw through the Spaniard’s 
scheme to defraud him of a fairly earned re¬ 
ward, and complained to the viceroy, who 
called the two men before him. He asked 
the Spaniard: 

(U How many ounces were in the bag you 
lost ? ’ 

“ c Twenty-eight/ 

u< How many ounces in the bag now? ’ was 
the second question. 

“ c Twenty-six.’ 

“‘Very good. It’s a clear case. If the 
Indian had been a thief, he would not have 
brought the bag back to you at all. It must 
belong to some one else.’ 

“ With this conclusion, the viceroy, sweep¬ 
ing up the gold from the table before him, gave 
the whole thing back to the Indian.” 

“ Good for Revillagigedo ! ” said Panchito, 
as the guard finished his story. 

“ I think we had better be going home 


78 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

now,” said Juanita, “but first let’s go with 
Louise and Grace to their hotel.” 

Thanking the old man for his kindness, they 
all hastened out of the building to the street. 
They decided to take a car, as the hotel was 
some ways from the museum. They had to 
wait quite awhile for the car on account of the 
peculiar system of running street-cars in the 
city. 

They all start from a common point in the 
centre. After running for a couple of blocks 
or so, they switch off to the right or left, as 
the case may be. This is convenient for the 
stranger, because it makes no difference where 
he takes a car, he will inevitably get back to 
the locality of his hotel, if he will sit still long 
enough. 

The time-table, however, is peculiar. For 
some reason no arriving car is permitted to 
leave the central point until a certain number 
have collected. It is a daily thing to see 


Sight - seeing 


79 


scores of cars waiting for the signal, while all 
over the city people are standing on corners 
waiting patiently for transportation to heave in 
sight. 

At last, however, their car appeared, and 
Juanita and her friends clambered aboard. On 
the way to the hotel they passed, among other 
notable institutions, the Home for the Poor 
Working Boys, which was opened in 1898, 
and is one of the unique charities of the city, 
having graduated fifteen hundred boys. The 
organizer and manager of the home is Rev. 
A. M. Hunt-Cortez. He is known among 
the Mexican Indians as “The White Indian/’ 
a title he appreciates more than a crown of 
gold, for it enables him not only to demon¬ 
strate his own kindly spirit, but also to bring 
out the best elements among the boys in his 
control. 

In this home, Carlos told the girls, Father 
Hunt places the poor boys he picks up on 


8 o Our Little Mexican Cousin 


the streets, and educates them and feeds and 
clothes them with funds which are voluntarily 
given. He makes an effort to educate the 
boys in the original tongue of the Aztecs, 
which he says is too rich a language to be 
allowed to perish. He does not, however, neg¬ 
lect reading, writing, and religious education. 

Although the institution is sustained at an 
expense of about fifty pesos per day, the good 
priest has such a firm hold on God, as the 
Provider, that the needs have been met and 
the mission of this good man so far has been 
crowned with great success. 


CHAPTER VII. 

FEASTS AND FLOWERS 

The religious ceremonies of Lent were faith¬ 
fully observed by Juanita’s parents. Conse¬ 
quently she, too, was true to the training she 
had received. On Palm Sunday, in company 
with her friends, she carried to church palm 
leaves that had been plaited in various designs, 
to have them blessed by the priest. These 
were afterward fastened to the balconies, doors, 
bedsteads, and other places at home to keep 
off evil spirits. 

On Good Friday Juanita went with her par¬ 
ents to the great cathedral, where the arch¬ 
bishop officiated before an immense crowd. 

On the same day, in the suburban towns of 
81 


82 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


Ixtapalapa, Atzcapotzalco, and Coyoacan there 
were processions in the yards of the country 
churches, where highly decorated and gro¬ 
tesquely dressed men and women marched in 
stately order, bearing a huge cross, and re¬ 
enacted, in crude fashion, the scene of Calvary. 
Years ago men, taking the role of Jesus, were 
crucified, and some even died under the tor¬ 
ture, but the government put a stop to that, 
and the laws of reform no longer allow external 
religious rites. The processions are therefore 
confined to the churches and to the church 
yards. 

The noisiest day in the year for Mexican 
children is Holy Saturday, the last day of 
Lent, just preceding Easter Sunday. At ten 
o’clock that day the Judases are exploded and 
the church-bells ring out after their silence of 
two days and a half. 

That they might enjoy this day together, 
Juanita invited her girl friends, Rosa and Sarita, 


Feasts and Flowers 83 

to come and sit upon her balcony, where they 
would get a good view of the street. 

Carlos and Panchito went upon the street 
and joined in the sports with other boys and 
men. During the day the girls got many a 
glance and an answering wave of the hand 
from them. 

Along the sidewalks ran many small boys 
dragging their matracas , or little carts with 
pieces of wood fitting into the spokes of the 
wheels. These were grating and grinding all 
day long. 

The popular feature of the day was the 
bursting of the Judases. These figures, im¬ 
personating the Iscariot, were made of paste¬ 
board, and all sorts of human and inhuman 
figures were represented. Some had the faces 
of animals and birds, but the idea was to have 
them as hideous as possible. Along the arms 
or legs or wings, as the case might be, were 
tubes of gunpowder with fuses. When the 


84 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


latter were lighted the whole grotesque crea¬ 
tion went up in smoke with loud noises. The 
louder the noise the more keen the satisfaction 
and the pleasure of the people, for they were 
thus avenging the treachery of Judas toward 
Jesus. 

In some parts of the city the effigies were 
hung across the streets and from the balconies 
of the aristocratic houses, filled with toys and 
small coin, for which big and little wildly 
scrambled. 

To the young American girls, Grace and 
Louise, who watched the fun from a balcony 
of their hotel, it seemed more like a celebra¬ 
tion of the Fourth of July than a religious 
occasion. Easter Sunday was quietly observed, 
for the people were well-nigh spent by the 
observance of preceding days. 

In the cathedral the services were signalized 
by grand music, the lighting of the huge pas¬ 
chal candle, and the removal, for the first time 



IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY THE EFFIGIES WERE HUNG ACROSS THE STREETS. 











. 



















Feasts and Flowers 85 

since the forty days of Lent, of the girandole 
from its position. The paschal candle burned 
constantly until the expiration of the forty 
days following Easter. Flowers, candles, and 
incense were profusely employed. The vest¬ 
ments of the clergy were radiant with gold and 
precious stones, and many of the sacred vessels 
used on the altars were reserved especially for 
the Easter festivities. The high altar was 
decked with ornaments of gold, and the ser¬ 
mons dealt with the resurrection of Jesus. 

Aside from the religious services, the day 
itself was one of the brightest in Mexico, and 
every one strove to appear in his or her best. 

During Easter week Juanita and her friends 
gave and received presents and dulces. 

Some months later Juanita called upon Rosa 
one morning, and asked her if she would not 
like to go to the flower-market with her. 

“Why, yes, indeed I would,” said Rosa. 
“ But why are you going there to-day ? ” 


86 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


“ I want to get some flowers to decorate one 
of the altars in the cathedral for the feast of 
the Assumption, and I should very much like 
to have your help/’ 

“ Why not invite Sarita to go, too ? ” asked 
Rosa. “ She has splendid taste in the arrange¬ 
ment of flowers.” 

“ All right, we will,” answered Juanita. 

With this purpose in view, they called at 
Sarita’s home, but found she was so busy help¬ 
ing her mother on some drawn-work, for which 
some customers were in a hurry, that she could 
not go with them. 

The flower-market is situated close by the 
great cathedral, and thither the two girls 
hastened. 

It was a brilliant, beautiful scene, — flowers 
to right, flowers to left, flowers all around. 
The immense wreaths of pansies and daisies 
were displayed effectively by the flower-boys. 
Great masses of white flowers of all kinds 




Feasts and Flowers 87 

formed a splendid background for the bunches 
of red and blue and yellow. 

“ Buy roses ? ” asked a piping voice at Jua¬ 
nita’s elbow. 

Juanita looked around and beheld a smiling 
brown lad not over eight years old, holding 
toward her a great bunch of splendid American 
Beauties. 

cc How much are they ? ” she asked. 

“Ten centavos each.” 

As Juanita turned away the boy ran after her. 

“ I let you have them, sefiorita, for eight 
centavos.” 

But Juanita was not to be persuaded by the 
insistent boy. American Beauties were not 
what she wanted this morning, even though 
they could be purchased for a song. 

By this time all the flower-boys in the 
market had discovered the girls’ presence, and 
there was a rush at them with great bunches 
of all kinds of flowers. 


88 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


It was hard work for Juanita to make her 
selection, but finally, with the help of Rosa, 
she managed to choose what she wanted and rid 
herself of the boys she did not care to patronize. 
This took some time, for the flower-sellers all 
asked at first more than they expected to get 
for their wares, and Juanita knew it; so she 
had to pretend not to be anxious to buy until 
they came down to a reasonable price. 

The girls next took their flowers into the 
cathedral, where Rosa was of much assistance 
to Juanita in decorating the altar which was 
her share in preparing for the feast. Many 
other girls were at work in different parts of 
the edifice, and a splendid time they all had. 
When they got through, the place looked like 
an enchanted land in its profusion of flowers. 

Among Juanita’s former schoolmates was a 
young cadet at the military academy. The 
academy is attached to the Castle of Chapul- 
tepec. One day in September he invited 


Feasts and Flowers 89 

Juanita and her friends to visit the institu¬ 
tion. 

The trip was very much enjoyed. It was 
explained to the visitors that the military 
academy was founded in 1824 by General 
Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of the 
Mexican Republic. In 1847 t ^ le Americans 
stormed and captured the castle, which was 
defended by the cadets, an incident fittingly 
commemorated on the 8th of September. On 
the 30th of May, Memorial Day, their monu¬ 
ment is always decorated by a committee from 
the American colony. The academy was re¬ 
opened in 1863, but closed on account of the 
war with France. Finally, under the decree 
of President Juarez, it was opened in 1869. 
There are now about 250 cadets. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE END OF THE YEAR 

About the close of October, Juanita was 
invited with her parents to a wedding. This 
momentous incident had been discussed by all 
the families in all its bearings for weeks before. 
The groom-elect had graduated from the mili¬ 
tary academy and was a captain in the regular 
army, by the name of Manuel Viesca. In the 
most approved fashion he had been courting 
Mercedes for some months, calling at the 
house and being duly accepted. 

Early in the month he went to the Civil 
Register and declared his intentions, and two 
weeks later, on the aoth of the month, he 
and Mercedes, with three witnesses, presented 
themselves for the civil marriage. 


90 


The End of the Year 


9 1 


The civil marriage in Mexico costs nothing 
if had at the Civil Register. If the judge goes 
to the house the fee averages twelve pesos, 
but the amount is optional. 

Before this civil rite is performed there are 
fifteen days of probation. The names of the 
bride and groom elect are posted on a bulletin 
so that anybody having satisfactory reasons 
may oppose the ceremony. 

But it was the religious ceremony to which 
Juanita had been invited. This was held in 
the little Church of La Divina Infanta, and 
was witnessed by about fifty or sixty friends. 

It was a bright, beautiful day that greeted 
the young couple. Mercedes Silva, the bride, 
was a tall, pretty girl, a semi-brunette. Her 
veil was arranged with great care and flowed 
from underneath a bunch of orange blossoms. 
She carried an ivory prayer-book and rosary, 
the gift of the groom. 

The bride entered first on the arm of her 


92 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

father, followed by the bridegroom and his 
mother. Then followed the group of padrinos , 
the godmother and godfather in each case. 

When the party got just inside the door of 
the church, the priest met them, attired in a 
beautiful costume of cloth of gold, and put the 
first question to them as to whether they 
wished to marry each other. Then the party 
went up and knelt together below the altar at 
prie-dieus, the priest offering the prayer. 
Then he gave two rings of gold to the groom^ 
one to be put on the finger of the bride and 
the other on his own. 

Some more questions were asked and the 
groom handed the bride thirteen coins, gold 
pesos, which she gave to the priest. They 
proceeded closer to the altar, where they knelt 
about half an hour while the priest prayed and 
there was some very fine orchestral music. 

While they were thus kneeling another 
priest took part of the bridal veil and put it 


The End of the Year 


93 


over the groom, and then placed a silver chain 
over both the parties. Then the officiating 
priest blessed them and they marched out of 
the church. 

Thence they rode in a carriage to a photo¬ 
graph establishment to have their pictures 
taken, which is quite the thing in Mexico, 
after which they held an informal reception at 
the home of the bride’s parents. The serv¬ 
ants brought in copitas , or drinks, and then 
there was a big dinner. Afterward there was 
dancing. 

To witness a wedding was a new experience 
to Juanita, and it was no wonder that she 
greatly enjoyed telling Sarita and Rosa about 
it afterward. It furnished a subject of con¬ 
versation for them for weeks to come, — in fact 
until they began to get ready for the Christmas 
festivities. 

In the days of Santa Anna and President 
Guadalupe Victoria, Christmas was celebrated 


94 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


by the Mexicans with much more ceremony 
than to-day. Cannon were fired by the gov¬ 
ernment at sunrise and sunset and at high 
noon, as they are fired to-day on the birth 
of some earthly prince. Processions went 
through the streets of Mexico with govern¬ 
ment officers and the military in full uniform 
and led by the archbishop and the clergy and 
canons of the cathedral. 

Now Christmas Day is one of the most 
quiet days in the year and is solemnly but 
sedately observed in the churches. All the 
excitement of the season centralizes about 
the posadas and the pihatas , that precede this 
day of days. 

In fact, there is less observance of the 
posadas than in former years. The original 
posadas were supposed to be religious in their 
character or nature, but of recent years the 
tendency has been to relaxation in the religious 
observance, the children being so anxious for 


The End of the Year 


95 


the breaking of the pinata. Therefore, in 
1894, the archbishop forbade the posadas. 
However, the observance is too Mexican in 
its character to be easily set aside, especially 
in homes where the Catholic mandate is not 
taken seriously. 

They were the delight of the children. 
Every night the children gathered in the 
corridors of their own homes or in their patios 
for this fun-making. 

The patios were all illuminated and deco¬ 
rated with lanterns and flowers, especially with 
the brilliant poinsette or crimson flower, which 
is of bright red colour. 

The children marched around the corridors, 
each holding a lighted candle and singing “ Ora 
pro nobis” which is adapted from the Loretto 
ritual. They went round and round from room 
to room, stopping at each door and singing their 
little song. The song described the journey- 
ings of Joseph and Mary looking for a room. 


96 Our Little Mexican Cousin 

The groups of children were repulsed from 
one room to another as the Holy Family was 
repulsed in Bethlehem. Finally, they reached 
one of the rooms which was opened to them. 
The little figures which they carried represent¬ 
ing the Holy Family were then placed by the 
children in some corner and forgotten till 
the next evening and they began the fun of 
the pinata. 

As formerly observed, the ceremonies in 
connection with the posadas began nine days 
before Christmas Day. 

This year, instead of each family having a 
celebration by itself, the Jiminez and Ortiz 
families accepted the invitation of Senora 
Alvarez to join with them in the day’s fes¬ 
tivities. 

In Mexico Christmas is different from the 
old-time Christmas of Hans Christian Ander¬ 
sen, or from the Christ-time as observed in the 
United States and in Europe. 



“ EACH BOY AND GIRL HAD THREE CHANCES TO HIT THE 

PlK r A TA 



















































































































. 


The End of the Year 


97 


There is no snow, except on the big vol¬ 
canoes sixty miles away, and therefore there 
are no sleigh-bells or harnessed reindeer in 
the air. 

Until the comfort of fireplaces and open 
hearths was brought by the Americans, these 
were not known in Mexico, and there were no 
chimneys. Consequently, there was no way 
for Santa Claus to enter the houses. 

In American homes, however, Santa Claus 
has been welcomed for the past fifteen years, 
and Mexico now knows something about 
Christmas trees, hungry stockings, mistletoe 
branches, and all the witchery of Christmas 
as known to its northern neighbours. 

But Mexico has plenty of flowers always, 
and during the days before Christmas Rosa 
and her two girl friends decorated her home 
exquisitely. Panchito assisted in this work, 
for a boy is handy when there are nails to be 
driven and decorations to be put up. 


98 Our Little Mexican Cousin 


The preparation of the pinata was the special 
work of Senora Alvarez, though it is fair to 
say that both Senoras Jiminez and Ortiz had a 
hand in it. 

A jar of clay was dressed in the shape of a 
great doll and decorated with coloured papers, 
and filled with candies and toys. The night 
before Christmas, after Rosa and Panchito 
were asleep, it was hung in the centre of the 
sitting-room. 

Bright and early Christmas morning Sarita 
and Carlos and little Maria and Juanita, with 
their parents, put in an appearance at the Al¬ 
varez home. The little house was pretty well 
filled, but if there was a slight lack of room, 
there was no want of hospitality and good 
cheer. 

After all had gathered, there was no waiting 
for the all-important ceremony, for the chil¬ 
dren were anxious to break the pinata. 

They were blindfolded in turn, and each boy 


The End of the Year 


99 

and girl had three chances to hit the pinata 
with a stick. 

First Carlos took his turn. What shouts 
all set up as he once, twice, three times, vainly 
beat the air with his stick. 

Strange as it may seem, the children all 
failed in their first trial to break the pinata. 
Then they began over again with little Maria, 
who, with a good deal of giggling and dancing, 
was blindfolded once more. Juanita turned 
her around several times and said, <f Now 
strike hard.” 

With a mighty effort Maria swung around 
her arm, and hit — nothing ! 

Again she turned a little, and again struck 
out and hit — nothing! 

A third time she moved, and, carefully 
swinging the stick far over her head, hit the 
pinata squarely in the middle, and scattered its 
contents all over the room. 

With much shouting and laughing the chil- 


ioo Our Little Mexican Cousin 


dren made a scramble for the good things 
spread around, and for an hour or more there 
was plenty of fun in undoing mysterious pack¬ 
ages. The rapturous exclamations at the reve¬ 
lation of their contents amply repaid for all 
the labour and trouble the affair had cost the 
older members of the different families. 

Not until very late that evening did the party 
break up, but finally all went to their own 
homes, and tired young folks soon forgot their 
weariness and excitement in the land of dreams. 


THE END. 


THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES 


The most delightful and interesting accounts possible of 
child-life in other lands, filled with quaint sayings, doings, 
and adventures. 

Each i vol., i2mo, decorative cover, cloth, with six full- 
page illustrations in color by L. J. Bridgman. 

Price per volume.$0.60 

By MARY HAZELTON WADE 

Our Little African Cousin 
Our Little Armenian Cousin 
Our Little Brown Cousin 
Our Little Cuban Cousin 
Our Little Eskimo Cousin 
Our Little German Cousin 
Our Little Hawaiian Cousin 
Our Little Indian Cousin 
Our Little Irish Cousin 
Our Little Italian Cousin 
Our Little Japanese Cousin 
Our Little Jewish Cousin 
Our Little Mexican Cousin 
Our Little Norwegian Cousin 
Our Little Philippine Cousin 
Our Little Porto Rican Cousin 
Our Little Russian Cousin 
Our Little Siamese Cousin 
Our Little Swiss Cousin 
Our Little Turkish Cousin 

By BLANCHE McMANUS 

Our Little English Cousin 
Our Little French Cousin 

By ELIZABETH ROBERTS MacDONALD 
Our Little Canadian Cousin 
By ISAAC HEADLAND TAYLOR 
Our Little Chinese Cousin 
By H. LEE M. PIKE 
Our Little Korean Cousin 


A —1 


ANIMAL TALES 

By Charles G. D. Roberts 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

Charles Livingston Bull 

as follows: 

The Lord of the Air 

(The Eagle) 

The King of the Mamozekel 

(The Moose) 

The Watchers of the Camp-fire 

(The Panther) 

The Haunter of the Pine Gloom 

(The Lynx) 

The Return to the Trails 

(The Bear) 

The Little People of the Sycamore 

(The Raccoon) 

Each i vol., small i2mo, cloth decorative, per volume, 

$0.50 

Realizing the great demand for the animal stories of 
Professor Roberts, one of the masters of nature writers, 
the publishers have selected six representative stories, to be 
issued separately, at a popular price. Each story is illus¬ 
trated by Charles Livingston Bull, and is bound in a hand¬ 
some decorative cover. 

A-3 


COSY CORNER SERIES 

it is the intention of the publishers that this series shall 
contain only the very highest and purest literature,— 
stories that shall not only appeal to the children them¬ 
selves, but be appreciated by all those who feel with 
them in their joys and sorrows. 

The numerous illustrations in each book are by well-known 
artists, and each volume has a separate attractive cover 
design. 

Each, i vol., i6mo, cloth.$0.50 

By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON 

The Little Colonel. (Trade Mark.) 

The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine 
is a small girl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on 
account of her fancied resemblance to an old-school South¬ 
ern gentleman, whose fine estate and old family are famous 
in the region. This old Colonel proves to be the grand¬ 
father of the child. 

The Giant Scissors. 

This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in 
France, — the wonderful house with the gate of The Giant 
Scissors, Jules, her little playmate, Sister Denisa, the cruel 
Brossard, and her dear Aunt Kate. Joyce is a great friend 
of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with her 
the delightful experiences of the “ House Party ” and the 
“ Holidays.” 

Two Little Knights of Kentucky, 

Who Were the Little Colonel’s Neighbors. 

In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old 
friend, but with added grace and charm. She is not, 
however, the central figure of the story, that place being 
taken by the “ two little knights.” 

A —3 


L. C. PAGE AND COMPANY’S 


By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON ( Continued ) 

Cicely and Other Stories for Girls. 

The readers of Mrs. Johnston’s charming juveniles will 
be glad to learn of the issue of this volume for young 
people. 

Aunt ’Liza’s Hero and Other Stories. 

A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal 
to all boys and most girls. 

Big Brother. 

A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Steven, 
himself a small boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of 
the simple tale. 

Ole Mammy’s Torment. 

“ Ole Mammy’s Torment ” has been fitly called “ a classic 
of Southern life.” It relates the haps and mishaps of a 
small negro lad, and tells how he was led by love and kind¬ 
ness to a knowledge of the right. 

The Story of Dago. 

In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a 
pet monkey, owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells 
his own story, and the account of his haps and mishaps is 
both interesting and amusing. 

The Quilt That Jack Built. 

A pleasant little story of a boy’s labor of love, and how 
it changed the course of his life many years after it was 
accomplished. 

Flip’s Islands of Providence. 

A story of a boy’s life battle, his early defeat, and his 
final triumph, well worth the reading. 

A—4 



COSY CORNER SERIES 


By EDITH ROBINSON 

A Little Puritan’s First Christmas. 

A story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christ¬ 
mas was invented by Betty Sewall, a typical child of the 
Puritans, aided by her brother Sam. 

A Little Daughter of Liberty. 

The author’s motive for this story is well indicated by a 
quotation from her introduction, as follows: 

“ One ride is memorable in the early history of the 
American Revolution, the well-known ride of Paul Revere. 
Equally deserving of commendation is another ride, — the 
ride of Anthony Severn, — which was no less historic in its 
action or memorable in its consequences.” 

A Loyal Little Maid. 

A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, 
in which the child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders im¬ 
portant services to George Washington. 

A Little Puritan Rebel. 

This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the time 
when the gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massa¬ 
chusetts. 

A Little Puritan Pioneer. 

The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement at 
Charlestown. The little girl heroine adds another to the 
list of favorites so well known to the young people. 

A Little Puritan Bound Girl. 

A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great 
interest to youthful readers. 

A Little Puritan Cavalier. 

The story of a “ Little Puritan Cavalier ” who tried with 
all his boyish enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and ideals of 
the dead Crusaders. 

A— 5 



L. C. PAGE AND COMPANY'S 


By MISS MULOCK 

The Little Lame Prince. 

A delightful story of a little boy who has many adven¬ 
tures by means of the magic gifts of his fairy godmother. 

Adventures of a Brownie. 

The story of a household elf who torments the cook and 
gardener, but is a constant joy and delight to the children 
who love and trust him. 


His Little Mother. 

Miss Mulock’s short stories for children are a constant 
source of delight to them, and “ His Little Mother,” in this 
new and attractive dress, will be welcomed by hosts of 
youthful readers. 

Little Sunshine’s Holiday. 

An attractive story of a summer outing. “ Little Sun¬ 
shine ” is another of those beautiful child-characters for 
which Miss Mulock is so justly famous. 


By JULIANA HORATIA EWING 

Jackanapes. 

A new edition, with new illustrations, of this exquisite 
and touching story, dear alike to young and old. 

Story of a Short Life. 

This beautiful and pathetic story will never grow old. It 
is a part of the world’s literature, and will never die. 

A Great Emergency. 

How a family of children prepared for a great emergency, 
and how they acted when the emergency came. 

A.—6 



COSY CORNER SERIES 


By OUIDA (Louise de la Ramie) 

A Dog Of Flanders : A Christmas Story. 
Too well and favorably known to require description. 

The Nurnberg Stove. 

This beautiful story has never before been published at a 
popular price. 


By FRANCES MARGARET FOX 

The Little Giant’s Neighbours. 

A charming nature story of a “ little giant ” whose neigh¬ 
bours were the creatures of the field and garden. 


Farmer Brown and the Birds. 

A little story which teaches children that the birds are 
man’s best friends. 

Betty of Old Mackinaw. 

A charming story of child-life, appealing especially to the 
little readers who like stories of “ real people.” 


Mother Nature’s Little Ones. 

Curious little sketches describing the early lifetime, or 
« childhood,” of the little creatures out-of-doors. 

How Christmas Came to the Mul- 
vaneys. 

A bright, lifelike little story of a family of poor children, 
with an unlimited capacity for fun and mischief. The 
wonderful never-to-be-forgotten Christmas that came to 
them is the climax of a series of exciting incidents. 

A — 7 




L. C. PAGE AND COMPANY'S 


By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE 

The Farrier’s Dog and His Fellow. 

This story, written by the gifted young Southern woman, 
will appeal to all that is best in the natures of the many 
admirers of her graceful and piquant style. 


The Fortunes of the Fellow. 

Those who read and enjoyed the pathos and charm of 
“The Farrier’s Dog and His Fellow” will welcome the 
further account of the adventures of Baydaw and the Fel¬ 
low at the home of the kindly smith. 


The Best of Friends. 

This continues the experiences of the Farrier’s dog and 
his Fellow, written in Miss Dromgoole’s well-known charm¬ 
ing style. 


Down in Dixie. 

A fascinating story for boys and girls, of a family of Ala¬ 
bama children who move to Florida and grow up in the 
South. 


By MARIAN W. WILDMAN 

Loyalty Island. 

An account of the adventures of four children and their 
pet dog on an island, and how they cleared their brother 
from the suspicion of dishonesty. 


Theodore and Theodora. 

This is a story of the exploits and mishaps of two mis¬ 
chievous twins, and continues the adventures of the interest¬ 
ing group of children in “ Loyalty Island.” 

A —8 



COSY CORNER SERIES 


By FRANCES HODGES WHITE 

Helena’s Wonderworld. 

A delightful tale of the adventures of a little girl in the 
mysterious regions beneath the sea. 

Aunt Nabby’s Children. 

This pretty little story, touched with the simple humor of 
country life, tells of two children who were adopted by Aunt 
Nab by. 

By MARSHALL SAUNDERS 

For His Country. 

A sweet and graceful story of a little boy who loved his 
country; written with that charm which has endeared Miss 
Saunders to hosts of readers. 

Nita, the Story of an Irish Setter. 

In this touching little book, Miss Saunders shows how 
dear to her heart are all of God’s dumb creatures. 


By OTHER AUTHORS 

Susanne. By Frances J. Delano. 

This little story will recall in sweetness and appealing 
charm the work of Kate Douglas Wiggin and Laura E. 
Richards. 

The Great Scoop. By Molly Elliot Seawell. 

A capital tale of newspaper life in a big city, and of a 
bright, enterprising, likable youngster employed thereon. 

John Whopper. 

The late Bishop Clark’s popular story of the boy who 
fell through the earth and came out in China, with a new 
introduction by Bishop Potter. 

A — 9 



Z. C. PAGE AND COMPANY 


The Little Christmas Shoe. By jane p. 

Scott Woodruff. 

A touching story of Yule-tide. 

Wee Dorothy. By Laura updegraff. 

A story of two orphan children, the tender devotion of 
the eldest, a boy, for his sister being its theme and setting. 
With a bit of sadness at the beginning, the story is other- 
wise bright and sunny, and altogether wholesome in every 
way. 


The King of the Golden River : A Legend 

of Stiria. By John Ruskin. 

Written fifty years or more ago, and not originally in¬ 
tended for publication, this little fairy tale soon became 
known and made a place for itself. 


A Child's Garden of Verses. By r. l. 

Stevenson. 

Mr. Stevenson’s little volume is too well known to need 
description. It will be heartily welcomed in this new and 
attractive edition. 


Rab and His Friends. By dr. John brown. 

Doctor Brown’s little masterpiece is too well known to 
need description. The dog Rab is loved by all. 


A-10 



BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS 

(Trade Mark.) 

By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON 

Each, i vol., large i2mo, cloth decorative, per vol. . $1.50 

The Little Colonel Stories. 

(Trade Mark.) 

Illustrated. 

Being three “ Little Colonel ” stories in the Cosy Corner 
Series, “ The Little Colonel,” “ Two Little Knights of Ken¬ 
tucky,” and “ The Giant Scissors,” put into a single volume. 

The Little Colonel’s House Party. 

(Trade Mark.) 

Illustrated by Louis Meynell. 

The Little Colonel’s Holidays. 

(Trade Mark.) 

Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman. 

The Little Colonel’s Hero. 

(Trade Mark.) 

Illustrated by E. B. Barry. 

The Little Colonel at Boarding School. 

(Trade Mark). 

Illustrated by E. B. Barry. 

The Little Colonel in Arizona. 

(Trade Mark.) 

Illustrated by E. B. Barry. 

The Little Colonel’s Christmas Vaca- 

(Trade Mark.) 

tion. 

Illustrated by E. B. Barry. 

Since the time of “ Little Women,” no juvenile heroine 
has been better beloved of her child readers than Mrs. 
Johnston’s “ Little Colonel.” 

A—11 



L . C. PAGE AND COMPANY'S 


Joel: a Boy of Galilee. 

By Annie Fellows Johnston. Illustrated by L. J. 
Bridgman. 

New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel 
Books, i vol., large i2mo, cloth decorative . . $1.50 

A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author’s 
best-known books, and which has been translated into many 
languages, the last being Italian. 

Asa Holmes; or, at the cross-roads, a 

sketch of Country Life and Country Humor. By Annie 
Fellows Johnston. With a frontispiece by Ernest 
Fosbery. 

Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top . . . . . $1.00 

“ ‘ Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads ’ is the most delight¬ 
ful, most sympathetic and wholesome book that has been pub¬ 
lished in a long while. The lovable, cheerful, touching incidents, 
the descriptions of persons and things are wonderfully true to 
nature.” — Boston Times. 

In the Desert of Waiting : The Legend of 
Camelback Mountain. 

The Three Weavers : a fairy tale for 
Fathers and Mothers as Well as for Their 
Daughters. By Annie Fellows Johnston. 

Each one volume, tall i6mo, cloth decorative . $0.60 

There has been a constant demand for publication in 
separate form of these two stories, which were originally 
included in two of the “ Little Colonel ” books, and the 
present editions, which are very charmingly gotten up, will 
be delightful and valued gift-books for both old and young. 

“ ‘ The Three Weavers ’ is the daintiest fairy-story I ever 
read,” wrote one critic, and the Louisville Post calls “ In 
the Desert of Waiting” a “gem, an exquisite bit of work. 
Mrs. Johnston is at her best in this web of delicate fancy, 
woven about the deep centre truth.” Those who have read 
the stories as they originally appeared will be glad to find 
them published individually. 

A —13 



BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


Little Lady Marjorie. By Frances Mar¬ 
garet Fox, author of “Farmer Brown and the Birds,” 
etc. 

i2mo, cloth, illustrated ..... $1.50 

A charming story for children between the ages of ten and 
fifteen years, with both heart and nature interest. 

The Sandman : his farm stories. By william 
J. Hopkins. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin 
Williamson. 

One vol., large i2mo, decorative cover . . $1.50 

“ An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of children 
not more than six years old, is ‘ The Sandman: His Farm 
Stories.’ It should be one of the most popular of the year’s 
books for reading to small children.” — Buffalo Express. 

“ Mothers and fathers and kind elder sisters who take the 
little ones to bed and rack their brains for stories will find this 
book a treasure.” — Cleveland Leader. 

The Sandman : More Farm Stories. By Will¬ 
iam J. Hopkins, author of “ The Sandman: His Farm 
Stpries.” 

Library i2mo, cloth decorative, fully illustrated . $1.50 

Mr. Hopkins’s first essay at bedtime stories has met with 
such approval that this second book of “ Sandman ” tales 
has been issued for scores of eager children. Life on the 
farm, and out-of-doors, will be portrayed in his inimitable 
manner, and many a little one will hail the bedtime season 
as one of delight. 

A Puritan Knight Errant. By Edith 

Robinson, author of “ A Little Puritan Pioneer,” “ A 
Little Puritan’s First Christmas,” “ A Little Puritan 
Rebel,” etc. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

The charm of style and historical value of Miss Robin¬ 
son’s previous stories of child life in Puritan days have 
brought them wide popularity. Her latest and most im¬ 
portant book appeals to a large juvenile public. The 
“knight errant” of this story is a little Don Quixote, whose 
trials and their ultimate outcome will prove deeply interest¬ 
ing to their reader. 

A —13 



Z. C. PAGE AND COMPANY’S 


The Rival Campers ; or, the adventures of 
Henry Burns. By Ruel P. Smith. 
i2mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

Here is a book which will grip and enthuse every boy 
who is lucky enough to secure it. It is the story of a 
party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, and 
athletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the 
Maine coast. Every boy reader will envy them their adven¬ 
tures, — vacht-racing, canoeing, and camping, — which cul¬ 
minate in their discovery and capture of a gang of daring 
robbers; but the influence of wholesome, outdoor life in 
the development of manly character is well brought out. 
Henry Burns, the leader of the boys, is a character in 
juvenile fiction of whom we are likely to hear again. 



The Young Section Hand ; or, The Ad¬ 
ventures of Allan West. By Burton E. Steven¬ 
son, author of “The Marathon Mystery,” etc. 
i2mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

Every branch of railroading fascinates the average Amer¬ 
ican boy. The shops, the telegraph and signal systems, 
the yard and track work, the daily life of danger which 
confronts every employee, whether he be the ordinary work¬ 
man or the engineer of a limited express train, and the 
mysterious “ office ” which controls every branch of the 
work, — each holds out its allurements to him. 

In this story Mr. Stevenson’s hero is just the right sort, 
a manly lad of sixteen who is given a chance as a section 
hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are 
as real as they are thrilling. He is persecuted by the dis¬ 
charged employee whose place he took, and becomes in¬ 
volved in complications which nearly cause his undoing; 
but his manliness and courage are finally proven, and the 
reward is his for duty done at any cost. 

A—14 




BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


Bortl to the Blue. By Florence Kimball 

Russel. 

i 2mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.00 

The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on 
every page of this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a 
captain of U. S. cavalry stationed at a frontier post in the 
days when our regulars earned the gratitude of a nation. 
His military training is begun at a very early age; and 
how well he profits by the soldierly qualities of manhood 
and honor and modesty and courtesy instilled is brought out 
in a series of incidents and adventures which will appeal to 
every youngster, and to many of their elders. Every phase 
of garrison life is included, for, though an officer’s son, his 
friends range from the colonel commanding to the trooper 
who taught him to ride his Indian pony. 

The author is herself “ of the army,” and knows every 
detail of the life. From reveille to retreat her descriptions 
are accurate, which adds to the value and interest of the 
book. 


“ Yours with All My Heart : ” The Auto- 

biography of a Real Dog. By Esther M. Baxen- 
dale. With nearly a hundred illustrations from photo¬ 
graphs and from drawings by Etheldred B. Barry. 

Large i2mo, cloth decorative . . . . $1.50 

Mrs. Baxendale’s charming story, though written prima¬ 
rily for children, will find a warm welcome from all those who 
love animals. It is a true story of a deeply loved pet and 
companion of the author’s for thirteen years; and it cannot 
fail to inspire in the hearts of all the young people fortunate 
enough to hear it that affection and sympathy for domestic 
animals so essential in the moulding of character. 


A — 15 



L. C. PAGE AND COMPANY’S 


The Roses of St. Elizabeth. By Jane 

Scott Woodruff, author of “ The Little Christmas 

Shoe.” 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.00 

This is a charming little story of a child whose father 
was caretaker of the great castle of the Wartburg, where 
St. Elizabeth once had her home, with a fairy-tale inter¬ 
woven, in which the roses and the ivy in the castle yard 
tell to the child and her playmate quaint old legends of 
the saint and the castle. This is just the sort of a story 
that girls love, with its sweetness and its fragrance and its 
faint echo of days long gone, with a suspicion of present- 
day romance at the end. 


Songs and Rhymes for the Little 

Ones. Compiled by Mary Whitney Morrison 

(Jenny Wallis). 

New edition, with an introduction by Mrs. A. D. T. 
Whitney, with eight illustrations. 

One vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative . . $1.00 

No better description of this admirable book can be 
given than Mrs. Whitney’s happy introduction: 

“ One might almost as well offer June roses with the 
assurance of their sweetness, as to present this lovely 
little gathering of verse, which announces itself, like them, 
by its deliciousness. Yet as Mrs. Morrison’s charming 
volume has long been a delight to me, I am only too happy 
to link my name with its new and enriched form in this 
slight way, and simply declare that it is to me the most 
bewitching book of songs for little people that I have ever 
known.” 


A—16 














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